When you want to show your appreciate, but don’t have lots of dollars to do so, making gifts is the perfect solution. By presenting thank you notes and drawings from the kids with a few little goodies in an adorably decorated bag, you can spread holiday cheer on a budget!

Begin by trimming bags to desired height using a paper trimmer. (seven inches tall allowing an inch for the folded top). Here are directions for making three different winter creatures complete with punny sentiments.

Polar Bear

1. For the polar bear, punch an XL circle from a light patterned cardstock and adhere at center of bag front.

2. Punch a medium heart from black patterned paper and round off bottom with scissors as shown.

3. Adhere onto circle for a cute nose.

4. Punch petals for ears and small circles for eyes.

5. Finish with a strip of patterned cardstock for a scarf cut with a paper trimmer. “To a beary special teacher” makes a cute greeting.

Penguin Bag

1. For the penguin, trim a piece of black patterned cardstock to fit bag front.

2. Using scissors, cut an upside down W as shown for the face.

3. Punch a petal for the beak and small circles for eyes.

4. Finish with a simple scarf as above. Add “to the coolest teacher” to the scarf.

The Snowman

The snowman is super simple as well.

1. Punch small circles for the eyes and mouth and a banner punch for the carrot nose.